Closure device



Aug. 7, 1962 A. L. HUBBARD 3,048,219

CLOSURE DEVICE Filed July 13, 1960 INVENTOR. A. L.HUBBARD ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,048,219 CLOSURE DEVICE Arthur L. Hubbard, Des Moines, Iowa, assignor to Deere & Company, Moline, Ill., a corporation of Delaware Filed July 13, 1960, Ser. No. 42,633 4 Claims. (Cl. 160-217) This invention relates to a closure structure for an opening in a wall. More particularly this invention relates to a closure structure which may be easily and quickly removed from and replaced in the opening.

The object of the present invention is to provide a collapsible device which normally closes .an opening in a wall and which may be removed from the opening merely by pulling the device away from the opening. However, it is desirable and it is also an object of the present invention to incorporate in the device characteristics which will maintain it in a locked position so that it will not inadvertently collapse or otherwise fall from the opening so as to expose the opening.

Specifically, it is the object of the present invention to provide a closure device for a rectangular-shaped opening which is composed of a pair of panels having abutting edges and which lie generally in a plane parallel to the plane of the wall. Each of the panels is provided with one edge which is flared to fit behind the wall and outer edges which fit outside the wall. Fixed to the abutting edges of the panels and extending outwardly from the wall are a pair of integral flanges which lie side by side. The flanges are joined together by bolt means which are spring loaded so as to resistably permit separation of the flanges. The flanges are further provided at their outer edges with the flared portion under which a hand may be inserted so as to draw the flanges outwardly. Consequently, the two panels are permitted to collapse so that the edges of the panels which normally rest behind the wall may be moved into the opening and the entire device removed from the opening.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention Will become apparent to those skilled in the art as the nature of the invention is better understood from the following description and as shown in the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a view of a portion of a wall having an opening therein and a closure device for closing the opening.

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the wall and the closure device.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line 3,3 of FIG. 1.

Referring now to the drawings, there is provided a wall having a rectangularly-shaped opening formed by a pair of parallel upright edges 11, 12 and a pair of parallel horizontal edges 13, 14.

The closure device, here indicated in its entirety by the reference numeral 15 is composed of upper and lower panels 16, 17 having horizontally disposed abutting edges 18, 19. The panels 16, 17 also have upper and lower edge portions 20, 21 which are flared inwardly to normally rest behind the inner surface of the wall 10. In this respect, it should be recognized that the normal disposition of the panels 16, 17 is such that the main portions of the panels 16, 17 lie in a plane substantially parallel to the plane of the wall 10. The panels 16, 17 extend beyond the edges 11, 12 of the opening so that the opposite vertical edge portions of the panels 16, 1'7 normally rest on the outer surface of the wall 10. The panels 16, 17 are provided with flanges 22, 23 extending in a normal direction outwardly from the abutting edges 18, 19 of the panels. Outer ends 22a, 23a are turned downwardly for the purpose, as will later become ap- "ice parent, of providing a gripping means for the fingers. The flanges 22, 23 are also provided with centrally located alined openings 24, 25 through which a bolt 26 may extend. Beneath the lower flange 23 and surrounding the bolt 26 is a spring 27. A nut 28 and a suitable washer 29 lock the spring 27 on the shank of the bolt and between the washer 29 and the lower surface of the flange 23. As is clearly apparent, the bolt 26, spring 27, nut 28, and washer 29 operate as means yieldably connecting the flanges 22, 23 and as biasing means for maintaining the panels 16, 17 in a common vertical plane.

The closure device operates in the following manner. Should it be desired to remove the closure device 15 from the opening, the fingers are inserted under the downwardly inclined flange portion 23a and the entire closure device is drawn away from the wall 10. The spring 27 will permit the panels 16, 17 to collapse from the vertical plane and consequently the panels 16, 17 will pivot relative to one another on the abutting edges 18, 19. Upon the panels 16, 17 moving to a position in which at least one of the flared upper or lower edge portions 20, 21 clears its respective edge 13 or 14, the closure device may be removed from the opening. Upon it being desired to replace the closure device 15, it is necessary to place one of the flared edge portions 20, 21 in its behind-the-wall position and to manually bend or collapse the device 15 so that the opposite flared edge portion 26) or 21 may pass by the opposite edge 13 or 14 of the opening. Upon both edges 20, 21 being positioned behind the wall 10, the closure device 15 may be released and the spring 27 will snap the panels 16, 17 into the closed position or substantially the position in which the outer edges of the panels 16, 17 contact the outer surface of the wall 10.

While only one form of the invention has been shown, it should be understood that other forms and variations will occur to those skilled in the art. Consequently, while the preferred form of the invention was shown in concise and detailed manner for the purpose of clearly and concisely illustrating the principles of the invention, it should be recognized that it was not the intention to so limit or narrow the invention beyond the broad concept set forth in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

l. A closure device for a rectangular-shaped opening in a wall having inner and outer surfaces, comprising: a pair of panels disposed in a plane substantially parallel to the wall and having abutting edges and edges opposite the abutting edges flared inwardly and resting behind the Wall adjacent one pair of parallel edges of the rectangular opening, said panels further having portions thereof extending beyond the other pair of parallel edges of the rectangular opening and resting against the outer surface of the wall; a pair of flange portions integral with the panels extending in a normal direction outwardly from the abutting edges of the panels; and means connecting the flange portions yieldably resisting separation of the flanges whereby said panels may yield away from the aforesaid plane to permit at least one of said flared edges to be moved to and from behind the wall.

2. A closure device for an opening in a wall having inner and outer surfaces, comprising: a pair of panels disposed substantially parallel to the wall and having abutting edges and edges opposite the abutting edges flared inwardly and resting behind the wall, said panels further having portions thereon resting against the outer surface of the wall; a pair of flange portions integral with the panels extending in a normal direction outwardly from the abutting edges of the panels; and means connecting the flange portions yieldably resisting separation of the flanges whereby said panels may yield away from the aforesaid plane.

3. The invention defined in claim 2 in which: the means connecting the flanges is a bolt and nut combination extending through the flanges and having a spring on the shank of the bolt effective to bias the flanges to a normal closed and side by side disposition.

4. The invention defined in claim 2 further characterized by the flange portions having downwardly extend- 5 References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Serowy Nov. 9, 1948 Howe July 22, 1952 

